Parents & Community

Did You Know?

• Charles County Public Schools (CCPS) operates 21 elementary schools, eight middle schools, six high schools and several special centers.
  
  
• The Charles County Board of Education and Charles County Commissioners are aggressively building new schools to relieve overcrowding. Charles County's seventh high school, St. Charles High School, is scheduled to open in August 2014.
  
  
• Public schools in the county serve nearly 27,000 students.
  
  
• CCPS is one of the largest employers in Charles County with 3,430 men and women working within the system. There are: 2,030 teachers, 1,080 support staff, 79 technical employees and 241 administrators.
  
  
• Twenty-two CCPS teachers have earned National Board Certification; a credential reserved for teaching professionals who demonstrate superior teaching skills and who complete a rigorous yearlong series of performance-based assessments.
  
  
• Public school graduates in the class of 2012 were awarded more than $52 million in scholarships.
  
  
• More than 80 percent of the class of 2009 reported that they would be attending some type of post-secondary school or program.
  
  
• The operating budget for fiscal year 2013 is $315.6 million.
  
  
• The per-pupil expenditure for CCPS students is $12,157.
  
  
• The school system spends 68 percent of its budget on classroom instruction and materials; 12 percent for building maintenance and operations; 8 percent on school administration (principals, vice principals, etc.); 8 percent on student transportation; 3 percent on system administration; and one percent on community services.
  
  
• High school students must pass four state assessments to graduate: algebra, local, state and national government, biology and English II. Students must pass these mandated assessments to earn a high school diploma.
  
  
• CCPS students have shown consistent, steady improvement on the Maryland School Assessments (MSA) and High School Assessments (HSA).
  
  
• The class of 2012 average score on the SAT is 1447.
  
  
• CCPS has a comprehensive Advanced Placement (AP) program. Four high schools ranked in the top 1,200 schools in the nation as ranked by Newsweek magazine.
  
  
• Each school in Charles County has a school improvement plan that is developed and modified each year by teachers, administrators, students, parents and community members.
  
  
• There are 20 sports offerings available in interscholastic athletics for CCPS students. These include girls' and boys' sports. There were 5,935 students participating in sports during the 2011-12 school year.
  
  
• The cumulative grade point average for all athletes for the 2011-12 school year was 3.19.
  
  
• Charles County goes beyond the typical kindergarten through grade 12 curriculum in order to offer students the best possible start to school and opportunities for extended learning. Prekindergarten is offered at all 21 elementary schools. This is a state-funded program and students must meet certain criteria to enroll.
  
  
• CCPS provides a quality early childhood experience that emphasizes early literacy development in a full-day, three-year-old program at Mt. Hope/Nanjemoy, C. Paul Barnhart, J.P. Ryon, Dr. Samuel A. Mudd and Indian Head elementary schools as well as at the Lifelong Learning Center in Waldorf.
  
  
• The school system works with the College of Southern Maryland and the University of  Maryland to participate in advanced programs and for continuing education.
  
  
• CCPS offers an extensive adult education program that includes courses for continuing education and self-improvement.
  
  
• CCPS provides special education services for eligible students from birth to age 21.
  
  
• Early Childhood Intervention Services provide special education and related services to students from ages three through five who have disabilities.
  
  
• The school system provides gifted education services to qualifying students and enrichment opportunities are available to all students and match the diverse talents of each student.
  
  
• Thomas Weirich, principal at Robert D. Stethem Educational Center, was honored as the 2012 Principal of the Year. David Bradshaw, a teacher at Maurice J. McDonough High School, was selected as the 2012 recipient of the Washington Post's Agnes Meyer Outstanding Teacher Award and Kerrie Seberg, teacher at William A. Diggs Elementary School, is the 2012 Charles County Public Schools Teacher of the Year.
  
  
• Superintendent James E. Richmond was re-appointed to his fourth four-year term on July 1, 2009. Mr. Richmond was the 2003 Maryland Superintendent of the Year.
  
  
• The Board of Education is composed of seven members elected at-large in the county. Members serve four-year terms. There is also one student member.
  
  
• The student member is selected by a nominating committee and serves a one-year term. The student casts an opinion vote on most matters before the Board. Azeezat Adeleke, a senior at North Point High School, is the Student Member for the 2012-13 school year.
  
  
• School cafeterias serve an average of 2.6 million lunches and 600,00 breakfasts each year.
  
  
• The school system transports 22,000 students on 275 school buses daily. Charles County's school buses travel an average of 6.3 million miles per year.
  
  
• CCPS has a 24-hour information line. Call 301-934-7410 or 301-932-6656 for the latest news.